Tag: berkshire hathaway homeservices

Hello! Thank you for reading my next installment of REAL EATS, the beat on where to eat. Where I combine my love of great food with my passion for Real Estate.

When I first met Eric, the owner of The Wine Project I totally enjoyed his vibe. He had a vision – a nice glass of wine, a little something to eat – enjoy life. It is what we all need – to slow down a little and savor the finer things.

You have options at the Wine Project – you can be very scientific with the awesome wine menu – learn a great deal about delicious wine, or you can order some bar favorites that mesh so well with the meun.

I’ve enjoyed Brunch, Dinner and Dessert at the bar. Each moment was tasty and fun. The Bacon Benedict still makes my mouth water – and that’s not the Mimosas talking. For dinner I cleaned my plate of his newest addition – a savior pesto pasta with roasted peppers, peas, fresh tomatoes, and toast walnuts. It was magnificent. But my absolute favorite treat, aside from French Wine and Champagne – is the Zeppole Dessert. A pillow of heaven – I mean – Deep Fried Ricotta Dough served withe Chocolate…. I don’t need to go on – do I?

Occasionally The Wine Bar hosts live acoustic guitars.

JOIN US WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 AT 7PM! (Yes, this is a shameless plug for my husband and friend.) But also an excellent excuse for Zeppole and Champagne.

Eric just updated the menu, kept some classics and added – what is sure to be – new favorites to the menu. I had every intention of snapping photos of my meals to share with you – but they looked too delicious to do anything but enjoy. I did manage to snap a photo of the Zeppole! It took me about four orders to snap this photo. Hard work – I do what I can.

Sabrina and Sue are a wonderful team. I never once felt ignored or at a loss. They held my hand the entire time and I’m so grateful for their help and knowledge in making this process so easy.

– Brittany

To future clients of The Caton Team,

The Caton Team is made up of Susan Caton and Sabrina Caton, or as I like to refer to them as the Dynamic Duo of Real Estate. They are trustworthy, honest, straight-forward, and experts in the real estate business. I might be a little biased, because of my friendship with them, but nothing will test a friendship more than the process of buying and selling a home. As everyone knows when you sell your home you want the most money for the least amount of effort and you want the process to be quick and smooth. The Caton Team will make sure you have all of the necessary information and knowledge to understand how to stage your home and what the process will be along with a realistic timeline of what you can expect. If you follow their directions and listen to what they say, your home selling experience will be painless and quick. For us this ended up being less than a week with our home selling for more than what we expected. The entire process from filling out the required paperwork to negotiating went smoothly and was overall painless on our end. At the end of the day we got more than what we wanted and were in a great position to start hunting for a new home.

This brings me to how The Caton Team helped us buy a new home for what we wanted, while making sure that we got the home that we wanted. Since we had already bought and sold our first home with The Caton Team, using them again to buy another house did not require much thought, actually required no thought. We went into the process wanting the best of the best in the best location, because who does not want that for themselves? They were kind enough to listen to our wants and desires and showed us what we could afford in the areas we were looking. It took a few homes to realize that our expectations were not in sync with the market, because currently in early 2015 homes are going like hot cakes and for more than what they are listed at by a fair amount.

This is when we sat down again and started looking at other areas that were just as nice, but we had ignored initially. The important part here is while they mentioned this information early on, they allowed us to realize it on our own that we needed to look outside of our ideal areas if we wanted our dream house. Once we realized what they were saying we expanded our search and found the home that we wanted. After our initial open house we contacted The Caton Team and informed them that we found the home that we wanted. This is when The Caton Team sprang into action, they immediately started requesting all of the disclosures from the seller’s agent and contacted the seller’s agent to gain any additional knowledge that might not be in the supplied paperwork. They then shared this information openly with us, as one would expect, and started laying down the groundwork of what we would need to do if we truly wanted this house. They supplied us with the tools necessary to make an informed decision and provided us with comparable sales (COMPS) in that particular area, so that we would have an idea of what houses were selling for and where the market was heading (spoiler alert, market was only going upwards). Their attention to detail and understanding of the market allowed us to make the best offer we could, while not overbidding or underbidding and making sure that we would have our offer accepted. As you have already guessed, our offer was accepted almost immediately and we are now homeowners of a home that we wanted in an area that is ideal.

If you have made it this far, then you realize why The Caton Team is really The Dynamic Duo of Real Estate. They make sure you are provided with the proper tools and information to make the best decision for yourself. They will work tirelessly with you and will not be a 9-5 agent, they will be honest, trustworthy, and straight-forward. You will not feel like you are getting the short-end of the deal and at the end of the day you will feel great about your decision to work with The Caton Team.

-The Liere Family

“Sabrina and Susan of Berkshire Hathaway, were the perfect real estate agents for me. As a first-time buyer, I had very little knowledge of how the process of purchasing a home actually worked. They are friendly, approachable, patient, strategic and persistent. Sabrina maintained great communication throughout the entire experience. They always got back to me quickly and they were willing to meet or discuss potential condos that I selected as potential buys. She even recommended a lending agent in the area, which I ended up using. Without them edging me along, I’m fairly certain I would have given up, thinking this whole “buying a house” ordeal was not for me. It’s simply too difficult for a working person to complete on their own.

Now that I have purchased my condo, I’m happy to see that Sabrina is still involved. She has collected my new keys and mail, answered my escrow questions and will do the final walk through. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend or use them again.”

– Ashley

“I worked with Sabrina and Sue a few years back and they were so professional. I was going thru a divorce and had to sell my condo. I was beyond upset. (Not because of the divorce but selling the condo) haha… Thru this difficult time they were so amazing and made me feel at ease. The housing market at that time was not the best but they did their best to make sure I got a good deal. The condo wasn’t on the market for too long and I was able to sell it for a decent price. Thank you to both for making that transition in my life a little easier. Definitely will be using them again if and ever I can buy again.”

-Elena

“We had a great experience buying a house through the Caton team. Sabrina and Susan were patient in answering our many questions, and helped guide us in the offer process to help win a bid on our second offer even in this crazy market! They are easy to get in touch with over email, text, or phone, and detail oriented to make sure nothing fell through the cracks. We’d highly recommend them!”

-Katherine

Hi Susan and Sabrina,

I just thought I’d take a moment to write you both to say how much of a pleasure it has been to once again have had another successful property transaction come to fruition with you both at the helm (yay, three now)!

I can’t say enough how Victor and I have been so happy you’ve been our representatives in both our buying and selling transactions, and that your dedication and hard work, creativity and professionalism have always made a world of difference all throughout the process of buying and selling our homes. From the smallest details like your fantastic web page ads and captioning to your weekly and continuous updates and presence at the property for showings and repairs. You’ve left nothing to chance!

It’s clear that experience counts, and your research and broad-based knowledge of the local real estate and larger markets in general, have always provided us with a solid backdrop from which we could make our decisions. You’ve always provided us with good information, solid recommendations, and I’m grateful that we had you both as our representatives.

Additionally, I want to say on a personal note, that you are both so considerate and thoughtful, and I always feel that we are in good hands when you’re on the job. Thank you again for this recent and very successful sale of our property, and we look forward to our continued relationship with you in future transactions.

I did not have your Broker’s contact information, but if you would please forward him/her this e-mail, I’d appreciate it, because I’d like them to know that you have permanent fans!

Thanks again, Helen and Victor

“Susan and Sabrina, The Caton (Dream)Team –

Thirteen years ago, we met Susan Caton who so kindly helped us find our first home in the Bay Area. She was mindful of our budget and attentive to our wish list. We landed a great starter home fit to our needs and close to work. In 2012, when it came time to relocate into a neighborhood with great schools, we once again called upon Susan, who now was partner with her daughter-in-law, Sabrina, to find the right house for our growing family. First, Susan and Sabrina helped sell our house within 2 weeks time at a price within our expectations. Then, they delivered BIG by helping us find our next dream home in a competitive market with little time to spare knowing Facebook millionaires would soon bring stiff competition to the housing market. All along, even when our first two offers fell through, Susan and Sabrina helped us keep our focus and always had our best interest in mind. Settling for less than our hearts desired was not the answer, and our patience combined with our trust in Susan and Sabrina paid off when we stumbled upon our dream home. We can honestly say that working with The Caton Dream Team has been a true pleasure as it has enabled us to find a wonderful place to call home, not only once, but twice. When the time comes, we will gladly call upon their services again, and we highly recommend them to anyone looking to find their first or next dream home.”

– Fredric and Heather R.

“I recently worked with The Caton team (Sabrina and Sue) to purchase my first home. I was referred to the team by a co-worker who had just purchased a condo with them. He had a great experience, and recommended them for their honesty, responsiveness and availability (even at night and weekends). I found this assessment to be 100% true.

I first met Sabrina and Sue when I was interviewing realtors. They recommended I come to their office for the interview. They were the only ones to recommend this, which already set them apart in my mind. During the interview they shared their process and approach and how our relationship would work. I decided to work with the Caton team for several reasons. 1) A great referral 2) Their open and honest personalities 3) Their sincere concern that I find exactly what I am looking for 3) Their combined years of experience and specialization in the peninsula.

After our first meeting, they set up their home search for the criteria we discussed. Part way through the search, my criteria changed, and they updated the search for the new criteria. Periodically, they would check in to see if I saw anything that I liked. We narrowed the search by going through what I liked and disliked about each listing that I reviewed online.

Sabrina and Sue answered all of my questions along the process. They came to the home inspection and to sign papers at title company. The title company representative that I signed papers with commented on how lucky I was to have my realtors there, looking out for my best interests, as a lot of first time buyers come alone, signing papers they don’t understand.

After receiving keys to my new home, the Caton team continued to support me. They referred me to painters their colleagues had worked with and found multiple contractors who would do the work I needed.

Sabrina and Sue are really easy to work with. It’s like talking with friends when I reach out to them. They are very approachable, trust worthy and hard working. They always answer questions I have or research to find the answers if they do not have them right away. I highly recommend them and will use them again for future real estate needs.”

– CJ T.

“The Caton team is awesome! Susan and Sabrina were an awesome fit for my husband and I as first-time homebuyers, but I highly recommend them for anyone at any stage of buying a home. They went above and beyond to help us locate a wonderful home and took us step by step through the often confusing short sale process. It felt less like we were working with realtors and more like we were working with good friends or family! Thank you, thank you, Sabrina and Susan!”

-Marie B.

“If anyone can get it done quickly it would be you two. By far the best Realtors west of the Mississippi.”

– Josh L.

“The Caton Team is A-Number-One in our book. Susan and Sabrina are consummate Pros. They do exhaustive research, they know how to price a home in today’s competitive market, and they know how to stage a home for maximum buyer appeal. They’ve sold two homes for us, and we’re completely satisfied with everything they do. You go, girls!”

-Russ & Elena H.

“I met Sabrina and Susan during our recent rental home search. As we were not prepared for a move (current homeowners informed us that they were selling the house after 1 year of listing the home as a rental) we needed to act quickly and diligently to find our new home. My initial communications were with Sabrina as she was hosting an open house. Her emails were prompt and friendly and I got to know her a bit through email. When I met up with her for the open house, she was just as friendly in person as was her partner, Susan. They were welcoming throughout the process and provided wonderful thorough follow up on behalf of the homeowner. Susan made herself available on a Saturday morning for the signing of the lease and has been in contact with us as we prepare for the move-in. We have very much enjoyed working with the Caton Team and would recommend them for rental guidance and hopefully in the near future, home ownership!”

– Angela J.

“The Caton team has helped me find my perfect condo within a month of looking! And then later found me great tenants to rent it out. They work quickly and are very professional. Plus, these are just a pair of wonderful women to be around. They are very trustworthy and have their Clients’ best interest in mind. I will be using them again for all my real estate needs, and I recommend them to everyone else! Thank you so much!”

-Caitlin G.

“The Caton Team are the best. They are very easy to work with and know what they are doing. Made a very stressful time much easier! I would recommend them to all. First time buyers and people that have sold many times will enjoy working with these wonderful ladies!”

-Chris & Gary C.

“The Caton Team has helped us many times. Susan and Sabrina are wonderful and we will use them again when the time comes. They know everything about the bay area and never pressure you about making decisions. We couldn’t ask for a better team.”

-Elisa D.

“I’m pretty sure without The Caton Team we wouldn’t have been able to buy our house. We started looking right before the housing market crashed and was going back and forth on qualifying for a loan. They made it happen-it’s a long story and I can make short and sweet. Please use The Caton Team for you house buying needs! Really!”

– Nisi C.

“I can’t say enough about what an incredibly professional job Sabrina did; she went above and beyond the call of duty! We would not be in our house today were it not for her tireless efforts. She’s so knowledgeable and works tenaciously for her clients. Thank you Sabrina!

- Rip R.

“Great working with you guys!”

-Aaron B.

“I have worked with many realtors during my 15 years as a mortgage broker and Sabrina Caton is by far one of the best real estate agents I have ever had the pleasure of working with on a number of purchase transactions over the years. She is upbeat and personable with a great sense of humor. She consistently works with her clients best interests in mind and is not afraid to tackle the tough deals. I have personally seen her negotiate to lower the purchase price by $25,000 after the contract was already signed when the buyers’ appraisal came in below the purchase price. You can count on Sabrina for high energy, professional real estate services!”

-Melanie Flynn – Windsor Capital

“Susan & Sabrina did an excellent job, I am very happy. I highly recommend them.”

– Heidi & Robert M.

“Susan & Sabrina were great, very helpful, and understanding. They were never pushy and made sure we were making the right choices at all times. We would use them again for our next property purchase.”

– Anthony D. & Elisa L.

“Susan & Sabrina did a wonderful job, they are easy to communicate with, they were willing to put in extra time and work in getting our house ready to sell.”

– Kathy & Rodney H.

“I knew I wanted to work with Susan immediately because she actually listened to our needs, and gave sound, practical advice and information without a sales pitch. I would recommend her to anyone. She was absolutely helpful and made the whole thing easy and painless. I didn’t worry about anything as long as she was working on it.”

– Alicia S. and John G.

“Sabrina did an excellent job, she went above and beyond from the beginning to the end of the transaction making sure we understood every detail. She made things very easy on us – we appreciate all her hard work. We used them for both our real estate deals.”

– Kathy & Rodney H.

“When we need to sale our home – we definitely will call them again!”

– Loyda C. & Carol J.

“We loved working with Susan. I feel I have gained a new friendship. She was totally honest and trustworthy. She made selling our home a pleasant experience.”

– Ken & Elain S.

“Susan went above and beyond what she had to do. She was the only help I had getting my parents home cleaned and emptied so I could sell. I live in Sacramento and didn’t have the time to get down to San Carlos. She truly was a “God Send”. She is FABULOUS! I can’t say enough about her! Please know you have one hell of a woman working for Prudential. Please make sure she receives kudos for a job well done!”

– Andrew R.

“Susan was always available to us, providing information and assurance during the selling process of our home. Thank You!

– Leo & Carlotta O.

“We felt very relaxed and trusted their personality.”

– William & Helen G.

“They did an excellent job and we would recommend them!

– Steve & Stacy G.

“Thank you – Flawless Service!”

– Danielle C. & Thomas G.

“Very honest.”

– Fredric & Heather R.

“I will recommend them to all my friends and family.”

– Diane S.

“We wanted to work with Sabrina. She was wonderful. She put up with lots of emotions / family dynamic around the sale of this home, as it was our families house. I appreciated her sensitivity and solid knowledge. We would be happy to work with her again and pass along any new clients as well.

– Nancy R.

“I highly recommend them!”

– Derek H.

“Susan helped us so much. She advised us and “rode” with us though the entire ordeal. She is a very “real” person and shares concerns. She advises and makes one feel extremely comfortable. I would recommend her to another person unconditionally. She is an excellent agent who goes above and beyond the call of duty.”

– Russ & Elena H.

“They were great. They made the entire process as fun and easy as it could be. Thank you!”

– Matthew S.

“Susan was extremely helpful in making our first move in 44 years painless. It was a major undertaking. Thank you!”

– Betty C.

“Very thorough. Informed me of the newest listings. Made intelligent recommendations and opinions on listings without being pushy. The attention given to me made me feel as if I were the only client. I am extremely satisfied with the service.”

– Toshinari K.

“They were very professional and helpful. We could not complete the transaction without them.”

– Takeshi & Nana M.

“We selected Susan over two other agents because we liked her better.”

– Daniel S.

“EXCELLENT JOB! Lots of support throughout the process! Great personalities and professionalism! Very responsive to our concerns during the sale – thank you!”

– Mike & Lynn A.

“Sabrina is a highly effective real-estate agent. She has in-depth of knowledge of the market, strong negotiation skills and provides highly personalized service…she really listens to the needs of her client and delivers based on those needs.”

– Elif S.

“I was impressed with the attention to detail throughout the sale process. True Professionals!

– John K.

“We were very happy with Susan as she helped us through a difficult situation. Thanks is just not enough to say for what she did!”

– Donald & Roseanna M.

“Definitely an asset to your company!”

– Rosemary P.

“They are such real / genuine people. I felt I could lean and trust them particularly with some very important but difficult to understand questions. They are WONDERFUL!”

– Patricia P.

“Susan has impeccable integrity, what a great individual. Thank you for a wonderful transaction.”

– Pamela G.

“What a great experience. I live 4 hours away and shopping for rentals is not easy. The Caton Team made my shopping experience less stressful. Always ready to answer any questions I had, anytime I had them. I highly recommend this Team.”

Hello! Thank you for reading REAL EATS, The beat on where to eat. On our next adventure we visit….

Griddle Me This in Fresno!

OMG! It felt next to impossible to find a non-chain restaurant in Fresno. But with the help of Yelp we found this treat. Griddle Me This is a new beer and waffle joint in Riverpark. The owner, who was super kind, opened the doors just 8 weeks ago. He’s full of adventure and excitement. We had a great time chatting with him and learning about how this restaurant came to be. And being a Chef’s daughter who is also married to a fantastic home chef, I know the work it takes to start a restaurant so I had to blog about this experience because I truly hope they thrive.

We went there for lunch. The menu had great waffle themed sandwiches. I’ve got their website below so you can check it out. I ordered the Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich it came with delicious jalapeno coleslaw. The waffle was soft, fluffy with a lovely crispy edge. I poured some maple syrup over my first bite and was in heaven. My husband had the Monty Cristo. I snagged a bite and found it equally delicious. Layered with cheese, prosciutto, turkey and jam – they captured the Monte Cristo and sailed it on a waffle. The sweet potato and potato fires were crispy too. All together I could barely finish my plate. But there wasn’t any waffle left! I’ll tell you that.

Anyway, it’s currently just a stand alone operation and I’m about to email Guy Fieri! With some subtle tweaking of their dishes and a bit more décor – I think Griddle Me This can turn into a local hot spot.

Real Eats on Real Estate

On the Real Estate Front, the train is coming and Fresno is a ripe market for growth and excitement. Worth a look if want to invest! Contact The Caton Team with your real estate and local restaurant question – we know a great pizza joint in town too.

I’ve got links to this great restaurant and local real estate below. Thank you for reading Real Eats – The beat on where to eat.

Hello! Thank you for reading REAL EATS, The beat on where to eat. On our next adventure we visit…

Griddle Me This in Fresno!

OMG! It felt next to impossible to find a non-chain restaurant in Fresno. But with the help of Yelp we found this treat. Griddle Me This is a new beer and waffle joint in Riverpark. The owner, who was super kind, opened the doors just 8 weeks ago. He’s full of adventure and excitement. We had a great time chatting with him and learning about how this restaurant came to be. And being a Chef’s daughter who is also married to a fantastic home chef, I know the work it takes to start a restaurant so I had to blog about this experience because I truly hope they thrive.

We went there for lunch. The menu had great waffle themed sandwiches. I’ve got their website below so you can check it out. I ordered the Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich it came with delicious jalapeno coleslaw. The waffle was soft, fluffy with a lovely crispy edge. I poured some maple syrup over my first bite and was in heaven. My husband had the Monty Cristo. I snagged a bite and found it equally delicious. Layered with cheese, prosciutto, turkey and jam – they captured the Monte Cristo and sailed it on a waffle. The sweet potato and potato fires were crispy too. All together I could barely finish my plate. But there wasn’t any waffle left! I’ll tell you that.

Anyway, it’s currently just a stand alone operation and I’m about to email Guy Fieri! With some subtle tweaking of their dishes and a bit more décor – I think Griddle Me This can turn into a local hot spot.

On the Real Estate Front, the train is coming and Fresno is a ripe market for growth and excitement. Worth a look if want to invest! Contact The Caton Team with your real estate and local restaurant question – we know a great pizza joint in town too.

I’ve got links to this great restaurant and local real estate below. Thank you for reading Real Eats – The beat on where to eat.

Millennials and young Gen X’ers are flocking to bigger cities to be close to the action. But with the rising cost of city living, they’re being forced to either pay a premium for rent or find affordable housing outside of the city.

These first-time homebuyers aren’t just migrating to any suburb. They’re looking for amenity-rich suburbs that have more of an urban feel with restaurants, nightspots, entertainment, stores and public transportation – all within walking or biking distance. (I.E. San Carlos!)

They aren’t interested in sinking every hard-earned penny into their house. They prefer smaller, more modest single-family homes and want to allow room in their budget for other things they find important, like travel. And the suburbs are just the place for them to find this.

A shorter commute between home and work is also very important, and contrary to what many may think, the suburbs represent a major share of the jobs base. In fact, in the top 40 metro areas, 84% of all jobs are outside of the center-city core.

Plus, suburbs also typically offer better quality school systems and a safer setting than major metropolitan cities, making them even more ideal for younger families.

To capitalize on this increased demand and make themselves even more appealing, many suburbs will be investing more in their downtown commerce areas and expanding their public transportation offerings.

So, next time you work with younger first-time homebuyers, try to keep these things in mind. Are there amenity-rich suburbs near you that could be ideal locations for them? Are these suburbs close to your clients’ work? Do they offer great school systems and affordable housing? Get back to the burbs and you could get back more happy younger clients.

I know just the towns – Call the Caton Team for all your Real Estate needs!

Multigenerational homes are not unheard of – I like this new trend since it embraces so many cultures that care for their elders and gives a chance to younger home owners who need a roommate and personal space. What are your thoughts?

New Homes Make Room for Mom, Dad, Roommates and Airbnb-ers

We hear it over and over in real estate: affordability is increasingly becoming an issue for prospective homebuyers across the country. U.S. home prices have increased by 25% since the beginning of the recovery in 2011, according to S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index, while median household incomes have barely budged. Apartment rents, meanwhile, have jumped by 20% since 2010, according to data tracker Reis Inc., making it more difficult for prospective home buyers to save for down payments.

Now, home builders are trying to appeal to the group of homebuyers who are being priced out from making a purchase. We have already looked at companies that are producing low-cost starter homes for millennials in our story Will Low-Cost Starter Homes Bring More Millennials to the Market?, but there are other building companies that are taking a different approach to home affordability.

As a nod to rising housing costs across the U.S., a Las Vegas developer presented its vision of the New American Home that included nontraditional living arrangements to help ease families’ financial burdens and was designed around the concept of roommates.

The 5,200-square foot home, on a hill overlooking the Vegas skyline, includes a second-floor unit that can house aging parents or recent college grads with unstable employment prospects. If necessary, the home, constructed by local developer Element Design Build, could even accommodate two families pooling their resources.

The home was unveiled at the International Builders’ Show, the industry’s largest trade show where the latest concepts and technologies are showcased. This year affordability concerns were on display as home builders say they are seeing growing demand for properties designed to be shared with family members or roommates or even rented out to tourists.

Another home at the trade show, built by Pardee Homes, a member of the California-based TRI Pointe Group, was designed to cater to the tastes of younger home buyers in the mid-$300,000 range. It includes two guest suites that can be rented on home-sharing sites like Airbnb. Both include separate entrances and a small kitchenette and can accommodate a single person or couple in need of a roommate. TRI Pointe found that 35% of young adults want to be able to rent out space in their homes at least part-time.

“A lot of their motivation for doing that is to make the financial step of buying their home more doable,” said Linda Mamet, vice president of corporate marketing at TRI Pointe.

Brad Hunter, chief economist at Metrostudy, a construction-research firm, said builders are stepping up efforts to build such homes to “capture the zeitgeist of affordability.”

Do you think this is a smart building approach to home affordability? Would you be willing to rent out space in your home as a first-time buyer?

One of the biggest hurdle I see – is saving up for the 20% down payment for a home loan. And with the cost of housing in the Bay Area – that 20% is a very pretty penny. In fact, it seems almost impossible for some to even fathom how to save that much. So the prospect of a low down payment could help get buyers into the market. Enjoy this article…

Low Down Payment Loans Are Back

A feature of the housing crisis is back.

Just because you haven’t saved up enough for a 20% down payment—or even 10%—doesn’t mean you’re locked out of the housing market.

In 2015, 26% of loans for home purchases were made with down payments of less than 10% of the home’s value, according to data released Thursday from RealtyTrac. That’s a 10% increase from 2014. In fact, the number of home owners who purchased homes with low down payments has been steadily increasing for the past five years.

The uptick is due in large part to a reduction in the cost of mortgages offered by the Federal Housing Administration, which underwrites loans to borrowers with subpar credit. While critics worry that a surge in low-money-down lending could set the stage for a reprise of the housing bubble, market watchers say the most important result of the change is to make homeownership a more realistic goal for many people, especially first-time buyers. In recent years, there has also not been a significant difference in the number of people who default on low-down-payment loans as opposed to those with higher down payments, according to data from the Urban Institute.

Indeed, the FHA has always offered loans with down payments as low as 3.5% to qualified buyers.

Still, there are considerations if you’re thinking about going that route. For one, it means you’ll have less equity in the home. You’ll also need to pay for private mortgage insurance, required for loans with down payments of less than 20% to guard against the risk of default.

If you’re looking to become a homeowner but can only afford to put a small amount down, here are a few more things to keep in mind:

Talk to a certified credit counselor, Bailey says. An adviser can walk you through your finances and help you decide if you’re in a position to buy a home despite not having a lot of savings built up. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development also sponsors housing counseling agencies nationwide; you can find a list state-by-state directory here.

Keep in mind the cost of private mortgage insurance, which is required for anyone buying a home with a down payment of less than 20% of the value of the home. Add that on top of monthly mortgage premiums (and the higher interest rates you’ll likely pay when you put down less money), and in the long run taking out an FHA loan with a low down payment could be more expensive than paying 20% upfront. Additionally, the agency now also requires that certain borrowers pay insurance for the entire term of the mortgage, unless they refinance.

Make sure you’re able to set aside at least 1% of the house’s value in cash, in case you need to tap into it for maintenance or emergency repairs, says Mark Calabria, director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute. And of course, be prepared for unforeseen financial challenges in your own life: For instance, if you were to lose your job, you’d ideally want to have enough savings to cover six months of mortgage payments.